The first couple of days
after we got back from vacation, I took myself off the sub list because I just
wasn't ready to go back. The long plane flights, unpacking, answering mail, getting caught up with the bills and, in reality, I just didn't
feel like jumping back in a classroom quite yet.
I did check the sub line just
to see what was available a few times. It was with one of those random checks
that eventually displayed a plum assignment at a school less than 5 minutes
drive. It was for a teacher that I know well, and is very organized. Her class is a well-behaved 6th grade class. I saw that as the sign to get
back to work.
The office staff welcomed me
back from my "extended spring break" saying they missed me. I met the
teacher in her classroom as she finished prepping my lesson plan for the day. She
was going to be at the school doing something related to the new "common
core" orientation stuff with some of the other grade level teachers. If I
had any problems, she was only a phone call away.
As we were going over the
plan together, the front office called with a message for me to call the substitute teacher coordinator at the district office as soon as possible. I am
already at my daily assignment so I could not comprehend what they could possibly
want.
As it turned out, there were
more teachers out that day than the number of subs available to fill all the vacancies
in the district. Since the teacher I was supposed to work for today was actually there today, the district
canceled my assignment.
I was re-assigned to teach middle
school math where I had not worked since the double assignment debacle two years ago. Maybe I'm finally out of the doghouse
with these guys.
Middle school works more like
H.S. in terms of classes. The school day is broken into six, one-hour periods.
The students have 50mins instruction allowing 10min to transit to their next class.
Teachers work only five of
those instructional periods during the day. The sixth is designated a "planning
period" where the teacher can process any daily district paperwork, email,
grading, planning, etc.
For the substitute teacher, it's
usually a free 50min break unless the teacher has specified something to do.
By the time I drove down and
checked in at the middle school, first period had only 15 minutes left. The
students were standing outside the classroom quad with an AP (assistant
principal) waiting for someone to show up. By the time we got everyone in the
classroom and I had a chance to go over the lesson plan, there were only ten minutes left before the students had to leave for their next class.
Periods 2 & 3 went smoothly
as the teacher had them working on pre-assigned projects. Period 4 was designated her planning period to
be immediately followed by lunch.
I dutifully locked the
classroom door and headed for the teachers' lounge for what I thought would be
an extended lunch.
No such luck.
I'm in the teachers' lounge contemplating
which overpriced soda I wanted to drink when the school wide PA system is
paging me to contact the school office immediately! Since the office is only
down the hall, I walk down to see what they want.
What they "want" is
for me spend my "planning period" to cover one period of art before returning to my math assignment. This
would free up the AP that was tagged to substitute for art today when no other subs
were available.
It wasn't a request.
